Park News July 28,2008

Olympic National Park

Andrew Palmer, an 18-year-old National Park Service firefighter based in Olympic National Park, was killed Friday while clearing trees in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in northern California.

Director Bomar has ordered that all flags throughout the National Park System – except for those on the National Mall – be lowered to half staff and remain at half staff until the funeral. Employees should also wear black ribbons on their badges, if available, and may wear black mourning devices if in civilian clothes.

Director Bomar issued the following statement on behalf of the 20,000 men and women of the National Park Service.

"The collective hearts of the National Park Service go out to Andrew's family. While the loss of any member of the NPS team is a sad event, Andrew's life was only beginning. He was filled with the energy and passion of youth, and he sought to give back to our nation by protecting the land from the ravages of fire. He took on a difficult job, and served our nation well, in the finest tradition of the National Park Service. His courage and spirit will live on in all of us, and will inspire us to do all we can to preserve the special places in our nation."

Olympic National Park staff have been deeply saddened by the tragedy. Superintendent Karen Gustin added her sentiments to the director’s: “We mourn Andy’s death and offer our support and deepest condolences to his family.”

Palmer’s four-person engine crew was dispatched last Tuesday, July 22nd, to the Eagle Fire, part of the Iron Complex in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Last Friday was their first day on the fire line. Palmer was fatally injured when he was struck by a falling tree. 

An accident investigation team is being assembled and will be co-led by National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service personnel.  More information will be released as it becomes available.

The rest of Palmer’s crew returned to Olympic National Park earlier on Saturday.  A critical incident stress management team is now in the park to provide support and assistance to the park’s fire crew and staff.

Condolences should be sent to Bob and Janet Palmer, 1536 Washington Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. A fund will be established by the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in Andrew’s name.  The foundation is on-line at http://wffoundation.org/ .
Additional information on the funeral and on the date for flags to be returned to full staff will appear in future editions.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on the morning of July 21st, a 23-year-old woman was assaulted by an unknown man at the Shenandoah Valley overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. According to her statements, she was listening to music in her vehicle when the man opened the driver’s side door and attempted to pull her out. During the ensuing struggle, the man grabbed her throat, punched her several times in the face, and attempted to pull off her pants. The woman successfully fought off her attacker, though, and was able to flee in her car. She drove herself to Augusta Medical Center; staff there notified the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office. Augusta County officers and a canine tracking team searched the area around the overlook, but were unable to find the man. Rangers from both Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park responded and joined the effort, also without success. The man was described as a white male, 35 to 45 years old, about 5’6” tall, weighing 170 to 180 pounds, with brown hair covering his ears. He also had several days growth of facial hair and was wearing a ball cap. Augusta County Sheriff’s Office officers, Blue Ridge Parkway rangers, Shenandoah rangers and National Park Service special agents are cooperating in this ongoing investigation.

 

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The body of 37-year-old Michael Salazar of Hillside, New Jersey, was recovered from the waters of the Delaware River just before 8 p.m. on Saturday July 26th. Park dispatch was notified of a swimmer in distress near the canoe launch at the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center just after 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Rangers were on the scene within minutes.  Personnel from the New Jersey State Police, the Portland Hook and Ladder dive team, Bushkill Fire Company’s underwater search and recovery unit and Worthington State Forest also responded. The body was recovered in eight feet of water about 50 yards off the New Jersey shoreline by the park’s dive team. Salazar was not wearing a lifejacket. The Delaware River is currently flowing at approximately three feet above normal summer levels due to recent rains. The river is muddy and visibility is nearly zero.

 

Colorado National Monument

A 21-year-old man from Grand Junction hung himself below a juniper tree near Cold Shivers Point on the afternoon of July 23rd. A ranger was patrolling Rim Rock Drive that afternoon when he came upon an unoccupied vehicle parked at the point. The ranger performed a quick search of the area and found the victim about 100 yards from the parking lot. An entrance station receipt in the vehicle revealed that he’d driven into the park about twenty minutes earlier.

 

National Capital Region

Joseph M. Lawler, regional director for National Capital Region, will retire on August 1st after 33 years of service to the National Park Service.  

Joe began his career as a temporary park technician in 1972, working with inner city youth in an innovative urban parks program called “Summer in the Parks”, managed by National Capital Region.  

After two summers in the parks, Joe went to the region’s special events office in 1974, and in 1975 became a park ranger at President’s Park. At President’s Park, Joe developed the first public ticket system for visitors to the White House.  This system continued in place until the 9/11 attacks in 2001, which altered public access to the White House.  

In 1978, Joe was appointed site manager for Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site, and in 1979 he became the chief of interpretation and visitor services at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. He served there until 1984, when he became assistant superintendent at Rock Creek Park.  

After three years in the private sector, Joe returned to the NPS in 1988 as general manager of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he led the development of a comprehensive plan for the first major rehabilitation of the center since its opening. This resulted in the repair of the center and projects totaling over $58 million.

Joe’s next stop was a return to Wolf Trap as park director in 1992.  Here Joe resolved some longstanding management issues in consultation with the Wolf Trap Foundation, resulting in enhanced visitor services and resource management and an improved partnership.

In 1994 Joe was appointed associate regional director for operations in NCR, and in 1996 he became the National Capital Region Support Office superintendent.  Joe then served as the deputy regional director from 1997 until 2004, and has been the regional director since January of 2005. 

Among the accomplishments he is most proud of during this time is having raised the public’s level of awareness of the hazards of the Potomac River Gorge through the Potomac River safety task force, which includes considerable interagency cooperation through local, county, state and federal partners.  As a result of this effort, accidental drownings have been reduced from five people in 2004 to no accidental drownings in this area in 2005, 2006, 2007 and thus far into 2008.

During his career Joe completed both the NPS mid-level manager development program and the DOI SES candidate development program.  He has received many awards for his accomplishments, including the Department’s meritorious service award for fostering partnerships. He has recently been recognized in separate events by The Ford’s Theatre Society Board of Trustees, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Capital Concerts Inc. and the U.S Congress – and by the Alice Ferguson Foundation, receiving their first Potomac Champion award.  The employees of the National Capital Region also recognized Joe at a recent ceremony, planting a cherry tree in his honor on the grounds of the regional office.

Joe and his wife Libby will remain in the Washington area. They have two adult sons who enjoy golfing with Joe on the weekends.  Regional Director Lawler wants to thank all of the outstanding employees in the National Capital Region for their tireless efforts and professionalism.
“It has truly been a privilege to lead the employees of this region. They rise to every challenge and preserve the great symbols of our nation.  I will forever be grateful for their dedication, loyalty and friendship.”

 

National Capital Region

The following appeared in the July 26th edition of the Washington Post:

Stanley M. Cofield, 58, who spent 33 years as a ranger and supervisor with the National Park Service despite being blind, died July 14th at his home in Washington after suffering a heart attack.

Cofield was a Washington native and a graduate of Cardozo High School. He began to lose his eyesight to retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative condition, while attending the University of Maryland, from which he received a bachelor's degree in English.

He joined the Interior Department in 1975 and served as a park ranger at many Washington landmarks. He led tours and supervised Park Service employees at the Kennedy Center, Ford's Theatre and the Old Post Office. For the past 16 years, until his retirement this year, he was supervisor of the park site at the Old Post Office.

Cofield was a leader in the D.C. chapter of the National Federation of the Blind and was second vice president at the time of his death. He was a frequent spokesman for the group and gave speeches to civic groups and in other public forums.

He cared for his 98-year-old aunt, Clara Simpson, and for his wife, who was disabled.

Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Andrea Thomas Cofield of Washington; a sister, Mary McLean of Washington; and two brothers, Timothy Cofield of Washington and Rossi Cofield of Silver Spring.

 

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Dates: 07/24/2008 - 08/07/2008

The NPS Fire Management Program Center at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, is seeking candidates for a position as manager of the Service’s structural fire prevention program.  The announcement opened last Thursday and closes on August 7th. For a complete description of duties and details on how to apply, please see the announcement, which can be obtained by clicking on “More Information” below.



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Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park is seeking candidates for the position of GL-11 district ranger for the Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East).  It is listed in USAJobs as a GL-0025-11 supervisory park ranger position, job announcement number SOAR 2008-05.

The Rincon Mountain district ranger provides leadership, management and supervision for a highly visible and active field protection operation that includes both front and backcountry operations. The operation encompasses the full range of law enforcement operations – resource protection, emergency medical services, search and rescue, wilderness management, wildland fire and aviation operations. The district ranger supervises three permanent GL-0025-9 protection rangers, one to two GL-0025-seasonal protection rangers, one GS-0025-5 seasonal park ranger (general), and, through subordinate supervisors, up to 25 volunteers.

Saguaro National Park is located adjacent to Tucson, Arizona. The Tucson area has a rich cultural heritage and unique blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo-American influences. The Sonoran Desert is blessed with an unsurpassed climate with 360 sunny days a year in Tucson. Summertime high temperatures can often be in the mid 90's to low 100's. The wintertime temperatures are mild and comfortable. The Tucson metropolitan area is rapidly approaching one million citizens - services are plentiful and readily available.  Abundant and outstanding educational and recreational opportunities exist in the area.  No government housing is available.

For additional information, please contact chief ranger Bob Love at (520) 733-5110.



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Gettysburg National Military Park

Gettysburg National Military Park is recruiting for a GL-0025-9 protection ranger with a Level I commission.  This is a permanent, full-time position.  The vacancy announcement has been posted on USAJOBS and closes Wednesday, August 13th.  The announcement number is GETT-08-26. Click on the link below for a complete copy of this vacancy announcement.



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Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park is seeking candidates for the position of GS-5 park guide in the park's Rincon Mountain District (Saguaro East). It is listed in USAJobs as a GS-0090-5 park guide under job announcement numbers SOAR-8-0052 (MP) and SOAR-8-0053 (DEU). Both can be obtained by clicking on “More Information” below.

The person selected for this position will research, develop and present a variety of interpretive programs, following the park's interpretive themes; make outreach contacts into the local community, creating opportunities to share the park's message; operate the park visitor center, including handling book sales an issuing federal passes and/or camping permits; develop and present environmental education programs, both on and off-site; prepare interpretive media, including brochures and temporary displays; and operate and maintain a variety of audio-visual equipment. She/he will also oversee seasonal and volunteer interpretive staff.

Saguaro National Park is located adjacent to Tucson, Arizona. The Tucson area has a rich cultural heritage and unique blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo-American influences. The Sonoran Desert is blessed with an unsurpassed climate with 360 sunny days a year in Tucson. Summertime high temperatures can often be in the mid 90's to low 100's. The wintertime temperatures are mild and comfortable. The Tucson metropolitan area is rapidly approaching one million citizens - services are plentiful and readily available.  Abundant and outstanding educational and recreational opportunities exist in the area.  No government housing is available.

For additional information, please contact district interpreter Melanie Florez at (520) 733-5151.



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